PETALING JAYA: Despite rising costs due to external factors, Malaysians should support local fruit farmers to boost their production and improve food security, says the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama).
“I acknowledge that sometimes, our local fruit prices are higher compared with imports.
“But we need to be fair to the farmers, as their operating costs are high,” said Fama director- general Abdul Rashid Bahri (pic).
In view of the difficulties faced by local farmers, he stressed the need for community support.
“This could help boost their self-reliance and promote a robust local agricultural industry.
“Local support is crucial. When sales increase, it helps farmers to boost production, allowing Malaysians to enjoy more affordable and high-quality local fruits,” he said in an interview.
Even if prices of local fruits are slightly higher, Abdul Rashid said supporting local farmers is part of Malaysia’s food security agenda.
He said other factors, such as the war in Ukraine, have also affected prices and the supply of fertilisers and pesticides to Malaysia. According to reports, British farmers had to fork out an additional RM8.21bil for fertilisers when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rashid said certain states went through extreme weather conditions, thus affecting the volume of produce.“Weather and rising costs have contributed to a shortage in production. We operate in an open market with no restrictions on imports, but local market demand is limited,” he said.
As such, Abdul Rashid said Fama is actively promoting local fruits such as watermelon and honeydew to hotels as they cater to Malaysians and foreign guests.
Addressing the country’s food sufficiency, Abdul Rashid acknowledged that the fruit trade faces a deficit.
“Efforts are being made to encourage local cultivation through high-tech farming and attracting the young generation to get into agriculture,” he added.
In response to rising production costs and the need for an affordable domestic fruit supply, Abdul Rashid said Fama has implemented strategic initiatives to support Malaysian farmers.
The agency has established 2,789 contract farming agreements, providing farmers with a secure market and stable prices.
Additionally, initiatives such as floor price support, Malaysia Good Agricultural Practices (myGAP) incentives, and forward agreements help stabilise income and improve marketing effectiveness.MyGAP is a certification scheme by the Agriculture Department, recognising farms that adopt environmentally-friendly practices and ensure worker welfare to produce safe and quality products.Meanwhile, Fama’s farm-to- table schemes encourage consumers to buy directly from farmers, supporting price stability and sustainable agriculture.
